Frommer's San Francisco 2012 - Matthew Poole [116]
Hallidie’s cable cars were imitated and used throughout the world, but all have been replaced by more efficient means of transportation. San Francisco planned to do so, too, but met with so much opposition that the cable cars’ perpetuation was actually written into the city charter in 1955. The mandate cannot be revoked without the approval of a majority of the city’s voters—a distant and doubtful prospect.
San Francisco’s three existing cable car lines form the world’s only surviving system, which you can experience for yourself should you choose to wait in the often long lines (up to a 2-hr. wait in summer). For more information on riding them, see “Getting Around” in chapter 12.
Powell–Hyde and Powell–Mason lines begin at the base of Powell and Market sts.; California St. line begins at the foot of Market St. at the Embarcadero. $5 per ride.
The city's cable car system was the first of its kind in the world when it debuted in 1873.
The Cannery The Cannery was built by Del Monte in 1907 as the world’s largest fruit-canning plant. It was converted into a mall in the 1960s and now contains 30-plus shops and several restaurants, including Jack’s Cannery Bar and Oyster Pier ( 415/931-6400). Vendors’ stalls and sidewalk cafes occupy the courtyard amid a grove of century-old olive trees, and weather permitting, street performers are usually out in force, entertaining tourists (but very few locals). Shops are open Monday to Saturday at 10am and Sunday at 11am, while the restaurants generally open at 11:30am.
2801 Leavenworth St. (btw. Beach and Jefferson sts.). 415/771-3112. www.thecannery.com. Bus: 30 or 47. Streetcar: F to Hyde St.
Earthquake Advice
Earthquakes are fairly common in California, though most are so minor you won’t even notice them. However, in case of a significant shaker, there are a few basic precautionary measures to follow: If you are inside a building, do not run outside into falling debris. Seek cover—stand under a doorway or against a wall, and stay away from windows. If you exit a building after a substantial quake, use stairwells, not elevators. If you’re in a car, pull over to the side of the road and stop—but not until you are away from bridges, overpasses, telephone poles, and power lines. Stay in your car. If you’re out walking, stay outside and away from trees, power lines, and the sides of buildings. If you’re in an area with tall buildings, find a doorway in which to stand. And if you’re having cocktails, find a straw.
The Secret to Catching Cable Cars
Here’s the secret to catching a ride on a cable car: Don’t wait in line with all the tourists at the turnaround stops at the beginning and end of the lines. Walk a few blocks up the line (follow the tracks) and do as the locals do: Hop on when the car stops, hang on to a pole, and have your $5 ready to hand to the brakeman (hoping, of course, that he’ll never ask). On a really busy weekend, however, the cable cars often don’t stop to pick up passengers en route because they’re full, so you might have to stand in line at the turnarounds.
Coit Tower ★★ In a city known for its great views and vantage points, Coit Tower is one of the best. Located atop Telegraph Hill, just east of North Beach, the round stone tower offers panoramic views of the city and the bay.
Completed in 1933, the tower is the legacy of Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy eccentric who left San Francisco a $125,000 bequest “for the purpose of adding beauty to the city I have always loved.” Though many believe the tower is a fire hose–shaped homage to San Francisco firefighters (Coit had been saved from a fire as a child and became a lifelong fan and mascot for Knickerbocker Engine Co. #5), the tower is merely an expression of Coit’s esteem; a memorial to firefighters lies down below in Washington Square Park.
Inside the base of the tower are impressive and slightly controversial (by 1930s standards) murals entitled Life in California and 1934, which were completed under the Depression-era Public Works Art Project. Depicting California